Hovertravel is launching two new ground-breaking hovercraft to replace its current vessels – and is hoping they will be a showcase for commercial passenger hovercraft operation.
Hovertravel, which operates between Southsea in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, is the world’s only company operating commercial hovercraft. Its new vessels Solent Flyer and Island Flyer have been designed and constructed by Hovertravel’s sister company in Southampton, Griffon Hoverwork. Hovertravel has taken delivery of Solent Flyer and the vessel is currently on sea trials. Both craft are expected to start operating this summer, replacing the existing Freedom 90 and Island Express.
The craft, which are 22.4m by 10m, have capacity for 80 passengers and freight, including Royal Mail. They cruise at 35-40 knots, hover at a height of 1.6m and will have an intake consisting of around 30 per cent commuters and 70 per cent tourists. Hovertravel operates a service every 30 minutes, increasing to every 15 minutes during the morning and evening commuter peaks, every day of the year except Christmas Day.
Hovertravel managing director Neil Chapman said: “There is no reason for the current craft to retire, but Hovertravel decided to review its fleet requirements five years ago. It was looking to improve efficiencies overall, as well as customer experience.” The company had to decide whether to upgrade the current 25-year old craft or reinvest in the business with new craft. It opted for the latter and a £10 million (US$8 million) investment was made in the new vessels. They are part of a 10-year business plan. Mr Chapman said that after this time the company would again look at reinvestment, or upgrading or refurbishing the craft. The company is seeking buyers for its two original hovercraft.
For the project the company teamed up with Griffon Hoverwork, which designed and built the vessels. Mr Chapman explained: “Griffon Hoverwork has a huge amount of expertise and has adapted its design technology to meet the needs of Hovertravel, which was very important.” Indeed, it is the largest supplier of hovercraft in the world. It builds craft for military, security and rescue services in countries all over the globe, from South America to the Middle East.
The construction of the new craft has been governed by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and they are classed by Lloyd’s Register. Solent Flyer and Island Flyer are trailblazing in terms of their design, ergonomics, weight and energy efficiency. Indeed, the new hovercraft are expected to see fuel costs slashed by a third compared with the previous craft. A major reason for this is that while the older craft each have four engines, Solent Flyer and Island Flyer only have two. Mike Chalkley, engineering director at Griffon Hoverwork, said: “The older craft have two engines providing the lift and two providing the propulsion. The newer technology has much more power, and the transmission and lift are designed to be much more efficient, leading to fuel savings of a third.” The propellers in the new vessels are 3.5m that turn at 850 rpm, as opposed to the old ones which measure 2.75m and turn at 1,400 rpm.
Cutting the four engines down to two also means that weight is saved, leading to fuel savings. “It is all about getting the most power versus weight,” Mr Chapman summed up.
MAN diesel engines have been used – but non-marine types, as the hovercraft also travel on land. Griffon Hoverwork adapted these to meet all marine regulations.
Other improvements include the use of mixed flow lift fans – Griffon Hoverwork’s own design. These give 25 per cent savings in fuel consumption. “We have done a lot of research into using mixed flow lift fans and really developed this over the last five years,” says Mr Chalkley. A major plus point is that the fans are made of carbon fibre so are lighter and therefore more fuel efficient than the previous aluminum fans.
Bow thrusters provide extra control for the craft in strong winds and are made of composite material, so these, too, are lighter. “Making everything as light as possible is one of the major contributors to fuel savings. We have used lightweight aluminum and a lot of glass-reinforced plastics,” said Mr Chalkley.
Another innovation is that the new hovercraft use hybrid drive technology, whereby generators that provide electric power are connected to the main engines. “Only electrical power is used, which is much more efficient and saves energy. We worked closely with a company that has used this technology in automotives [Yasa Motors], but this is the first time that hybrid drives like this have been used in marine applications,” said Mr Chalkley. He added: “The craft are now much more reliable, as the engines are digitally controlled rather than mechanical, and many of the services are controlled electrically rather than hydraulically. These craft are more a fly-by-wire technology hovercraft compared to the more traditional units.”
Another original feature of the two new craft is their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. HVAC specialist Dometic and Griffon Hoverwork collaborated to develop a unique air conditioning solution. Designed to ensure a high level of temperature control for passengers and crew and offer weight and fuel savings, the Dometic DuraSea equipment has a number of beneficial features. The inverter operates via high capacity DC alternators, which eliminates the need for heavy generators, and a multi-unit set up means that the craft can stay on duty even if one unit fails. The air conditioning units are digitally controlled and give the crew total zone control, rather than each unit being operated locally. And the grill systems designed by Griffon Hoverwork and Dometic provide a fully-integrated and aesthetically-pleasing appearance, with internal diffusers removed.
A unique selling point of hovercraft is their speed. But Mr Chapman highlighted customer service as being crucial for the company, too. Both of these points have been strengthened thanks to CCD Design & Ergonomics’ work on the new vessels. “They did a super job,” enthused Mr Chapman. “They looked at passenger loading statistics over the years so that we could optimise the seats required and the frequency of the service, and they looked at where people chose to sit as well as examining the embarking and disembarking of the vessel.” This analysis has achieved a faster turn-around time. It only takes five minutes, from landing the craft, to fully unload and load it. The human factor study carried out by CCD also demonstrated the need for both a ramp and steps, and handrails, for entry and exit of the craft. Without this study – which showed that 84 per cent of passengers touch the handrail – Hovertravel would have chosen two ramps.
Hovertravel and Griffon Hoverwork are hoping that the new cutting edge vessels will act as a showcase for the hovercraft as a commercial passenger operation and encourage its take-up elsewhere in the world.
Mr Chapman said: “We do have aspirations to look at other routes that are feasible. We are always keen to explore and look at other opportunities, and add value. We are very open to any discussions of this kind.”
He added: “The use of hovercraft is geographically driven. It does not need infrastructure such as a pier, and there are areas around the world for which it is extremely well suited. The possibilities for hovercraft are not really being recognised and so we are excited about the opportunity to tell the world about the company that makes them and the company that operates them.”
He highlighted the benefits of using a hovercraft for passenger travel. As well as there being no need for any infrastructure, they are amphibious, travelling on land and sea, and able to operate in extremely shallow water. “That is what ferry operators need to understand,” he emphasised.
Mr Chalkley added: “Both companies worked together to set this up as a showcase for commercial passenger travel hovercraft operation. We are working together to make the customer experience the best it can be and we hope that when we have the new craft they will show people just what the hovercraft can do.”
It seems fitting that these ground-breaking hovercraft have been launched just after Hovertravel celebrated its 50th birthday last year. The age of the company is an important element in its growth strategy. Mr Chapman said: “We are all about longevity. We celebrated 50 years last year, so while we are keen to look at other routes, they, too, need to offer longevity and add value.”
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